On the 27th of October, Anna Firth MP for Southend West has called for urgent action from the Government again the blight of nitrous oxide abuse – often referred to as ‘NOS.’
Speaking to Penny Mourdant MP, recent leadership candidate and Leader of the House of Commons, she called for an urgent debate on its dangers which can leave young people paralysed or even dying from suffocation.
The constituency-focused MP continues her targeted campaign to ensure that Southend’s streets are safer by wiping out nitrous oxide abuse following a summer of disruption across the seafront.
As part of her plan to make Southend safer, Anna has already taken special measures which included securing state-of-the-art knife poles for Essex Police which can detect metal mass. These quick and transportable pieces of equipment have led to many successful operations, confiscating hundreds of industrial-use nitrous oxide cannisters.
She continues to work hand-in-hand with local police and also joined the Operation Union team over the summer. Patrolling through various high incident zones, she was made aware of the uncertainty on the laws in place to combat nitrous oxide.
Following this, she recently met with the Home Secretary to call for the Government to extend the power of dispersal to seven days in emergency situations, as well to enhance the power of seizure for possession without explicit use.
Community Policing Inspector Paul Hogben said,
“Southend has seen a large increase in Anti-Social Behaviour over the summer, linked to the use of Nitrous Oxide. Residents, visitors, and business owners have told us how intimidating it can be, seeing large groups engaging in this kind of behaviour. Inhaling Nitrous Oxide is also incredibly dangerous and can have serious health implications. Essex Police are working with Anna to try and secure changes to legislation, to give us greater powers to deal with the use of Nitrous Oxide as a psychoactive substance”.
Anna comments,
“Southend being a safer city is an absolute priority. I am so thankful to the team at Southend Police and Inspector Paul Hogben especially. Our work together has been extremely effective, as he gives me frequent updates, and helps me fight for the issues that urgently needs solving. Nitrous Oxide is one of those issues, as it leads to various other problems, such as anti-social behaviour, and I make it my aim to ensure sufficient measures are put in place”.
